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EPISODE EIGHT: “High School Royalty”

PREVIOUSLY ON… SURVIVOR! Over 18 days, two tribes battled in the wildest jungles of India, both against elements, the wild, and each other. After ups, downs, and even a tribe shuffle, on Day 19, the Saap and Bandar Tribes merged into one new tribe, which Irene named Satya Yuga.

To celebrate the merger, the castaways headed to an Ashram in the mountains where they enjoyed a sumptuous feast and plenty of alcohol, which caused the castaways to loosen up, even leading to a surprising moment of fun between two very opposite players–Jordyne, the exotic dancer, and Shelby, the mother of two. They were not the only castaways to bond, however, as old friends reunited , such as Marco with Jamie and Marina with Jordyne. New bonds, as well, continued to form, with the romantic connection between Vanessa and Mathieu continuing to heat up, and culminating in a private kiss between them.

Vanessa and Mathieu’s budding romance worried many of the other castaways, but Mathieu seemed safe under the Bandar Tribe, who had a numbers advantage with six of their original members. He suggested they take out the biggest threat from the Saap Tribe in Jamie.

However, Jordyne and Marina had other plans. After bonding with Jamie and Marco, Jordyne sought to create a new alliance with the old Saap Tribe, and they agreed that Mathieu was a threat who needed to go. Jordyne’s plan, however, was foiled when Mathieu won the first individual immunity challenge, protecting him from the vote. Forced to switch gears, but wanting to keep her promise to boot a member of the original Bandar, Jordyne suggested Shelby as the target–but Shelby’s closest ally in Gavin, the game’s youngest player, rebuffed the suggestion. The new alliance agreed to target Rex, whose bizarre and erratic antics left everyone struggling to understand or trust him.

At Tribal Council, Gavin became nervous that Shelby was being targeted, and played the immunity idol to protect her. He was horrified to find that he had wasted his greatest weapon, however, when Jordyne stuck to her word and sent the weatherman home with the help of her allies.

Nine remain. Who will be voted out tonight?

Despite the previous night’s rain, the clouds have parted and the sun is shining brightly. Up at the camp, Shelby picks through the firewood, a frown on her face.

“Most of this wood is soaked… we’re going to have to find more to keep the fire going,” she laments.

“It’s not fair that we have to do it, though,” Gavin says, face rested on his hands as he lies in the shelter.

“Life isn’t fair,” Shelby says with a sigh. “If you want to go down and get everyone and be the one to yell at them to get some work done, be my guest.”

“Yeah, but I shouldn’t have to.”

“They’re free agents, Gavin. They can do as they please, sadly. If that’s how they want to take advantage of their power… that’s on them.”

“But it’s so stupid, Shelby. They shouldn’t even be in ‘power,’” Gavin says, using air quotes.

“In what is perhaps the least shocking outcome possible, Jordyne was disloyal to Bandar. I don’t know why I though she wouldn’t be. Wishful thinking against the face of logic is a habit I try to keep out of my repertoire. It’s absolutely had an impact on conditions for those of us who were left out of the decision to eliminate Rex. This morning, without saying anything, Jordyne and her little gang all went off to who knows where, doing absolutely nothing for the campsite in the aftermath of last night’s rain. There is no firewood, there is no water. They know that those of us desperate to prove our value will pick up the slack. And it’s clearly hitting Gavin harder than it’s hitting me. He played his idol last night for me, and didn’t need to. He’s embarrassed, and it’s having a visible impact on his attitude.”

Mathieu and Vanessa come walking back into camp, Mathieu carrying a large log. “This should help,” he says with a kind smile.

“Here’s hoping,” Shelby says, putting the log on the fire. It smokes somewhat.

“It should catch eventually,” she says. “Thank you for your help, Mathieu.”

“You’re welcome. Someone has to do it,” he says.

“Yeah, you can say that again,” Gavin mopes.

“I would be foolish to not consider the current danger I am in. My trust was greatly misplaced. It is actually almost funny how quickly Bandar fell apart. We had no unity, perhaps it was my mistake for not seeing those fissures more clearly. I know that I am seen as a dangerous player by the others. I did win the first immunity challenge. That is a concrete, objective piece of data that works against me. When we were two tribes, there was a benefit to protecting those who were strongest in the challenges, but now the game has inverted. The strong are the targets, and I am not going to deny my own strength. I could very well be a target, so I must find a solution to that problem. I am not ready to end my journey here. If that means I have to lie to the people that, until this point, I have been honest with, then it is with a heavy heart that I will do so. ”

“We’re not down and out, just yet,” Mathieu says, trying to encourage Gavin. “All we need is for one person to open their eyes and make a change.”

“Who do you think that would be?” Gavin asks.

“Do you think you can sway Irene?” Mathieu asks Vanessa.

“I won’t know if I don’t try,” Vanessa says.

“I’m… ugh. I’m trying to keep my head from falling off right now, is what’s happening. Irene and I have been tight, and I hope we’re still tight. But I know I could have totally shot myself in the foot last night. I was so convinced that there was just no way Bandar wasn’t sticking together, so I did what I thought I needed to do to show my loyalty. And uh, I thought wrong!” she laughs. “I gave my loyalty to the wrong people, so I have to backpedal, how embarrassing is that? But I only did it because Mathieu and I trust each other so strongly. I know if I can show Irene and Marco and Jamie that we need to stick together? We’ll have Mathieu with us, we’ll be in control. Ain’t no Jordyne gonna be calling the shots.”

“She’s not in a great position with them, make sure she’s aware of that,” Shelby instructs. “Jordyne is going to keep Marina and Jamie right by her side, and Marina will go where Jordyne goes. She’ll be disposed of by them as soon as they no longer need her.”

“Should I go down there now?” Vanessa asks.

“Why not?” Shelby suggests. “You have just as much right to be down at the water as anyone else.”

Jamie and Marco frolick in the waters of the reservoir while Jordyne, Marina, and Irene laze onshore, watching the boys at play. Marco takes a massive leap at Jamie, but being significantly smaller, is simply caught and tossed back into the water.

“So this was my second tribal where my name came up, and let me tell ya, it does not get any easier. But I’m still here, and that’s because Jordyne and Marina both did exactly what they told me they were gonna do. So this morning, the rain has stopped and I’m just like, you know what? I could be out of here any day now. I want to enjoy the time I spent living in the jungle in India, you know? I want to be able to tell my kids one day about what it was really like here. The way the sweat feels on your skin, the smell of the forest after the rain. I want to soak up every moment of this. So yeah, there’s work to be done around camp, but for just one moment? I want to just let it all hang loose and have a blast.”

“Well get ready to travel a ton, chica, because I’m footing the bill!” Jordyne beams. Out over the water, there are sounds of gargling as Marco once again tries and fails to tackle Jamie.

“This game has started to feel like high school, which I guess I was kind of expecting, right? Like, I feel like high school was basically a jungle anyway, including having a lot of predators looking to claw their way to the top of a food chain. And I feel like right now, I’m the nerd who got invited to ditch class to smoke a joint in the parking lot. Like I’m here with High School Royalty. And they’re all talking about the college party we’re going to this weekend. And I’m just trying to get to last period,” she laughs.

“Don’t, be rude, Jojo,” Marina chastises. “Don’t feel the need to disclose any details you don’t want, Ness. This one is just an incurable gossip.”

“I don’t mind talking about what’s going on,” Vanessa says. “Ask me a question, I’m upfront. I have nothing to hide. I like him, so what? I seen y’all over here lustin’ on Jack and the Beanstalk over here,” she laughs.

“I’m feeling the beanstalk,” Jordyne says. “Marina I’m thinking is more into Jack.”

Marco has now leaped on Jamie’s back, piggyback riding him though the water.

“Neither one’s really my type, honestly,” Marina says with a shrug. “I like guys who are short and chubby.”

“Cocktail weenies?” asks Vanessa. The girls all laugh.

“This game is so hard because you’re working against all these people who you genuinely like. And that’s the thing with Vanessa, is I like her. She’s funny, she’s honest, she’s someone who I could see being a great friend back in America… but all those things that make her so lovely to be around here also make her dangerous. I definitely think Mathieu is a giant threat, but he’s going to stay a giant threat. Once he goes, everyone is going to forget about Vanessa. She could get right back in with Irene, and suddenly things are going downhill. I know the plan was to go after Mathieu, but I’m considering that it might be wiser to take Vanessa out first.”

“So I was gonna check Tree Mail to see if we’ve got a challenge,” Vanessa says. “Irene, would you mind coming with?”

“Not at all,” Irene says.

“I really just want the opportunity to talk things out, because I feel like there was some miscommunication, and I want to be as clear as possible, especially with you,” Vanessa says.

“I mean, for what it’s worth, Vanessa, I’m not angry at you,” Irene says. “We all have to make choices for ourselves, you know? You had to try and keep yourself safe, just like we all were doing.”

“I just didn’t know if y’all could trust Jordyne,” Vanessa says. “I figured they were taking Jamie out no matter what I did, so I needed to show that I’m willing to play with the power, not cause problems, you know? And I think I just caused more problems.”

“I’m definitely lying to Vanessa when I tell her I’m not mad–I mean, I get it but I’m still hurt by her decisions. But I’d be stupid to act on that feeling. We still might be able to work together when Mathieu is gone. Besides, after that? We’ll be even.”

“I don’t want to be with them, I swear to you, and you know I wouldn’t bullsh*t you,” Vanessa says earnestly. “Look, now that Rex is gone, there are only five Bandars left, we’re closing the gap. If we can get someone to flip, we could be the final four. How great would that be? Saap taking down the big bad Bandars,” she says. “Mathieu would vote with us for sure.”

“Who would you want to take out first?” Irene asks.

“I think a certain little kid showed last night just exactly why none of the rest of us can keep his unpredictable ass around.”

“Shelby might think I’m working on her behalf, but I couldn’t give a hoot about Shelby or Gavin. Gavin doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing out here. That kid is just flailing around with his d*ck hanging out, pissing all over the place like a fire hose. That idol? Who thought he even had it? It took Andrew two times to get it, I’m shocked Gavin figured it out. But who knows, maybe he’s smarter than I’m giving him credit for. But that’s just another reason he has to go. He’s unpredictable and he’s going to die on his sword for that Shelby. He’s like her extra life. Well sorry, Super Mario, but I’m about to Goomba your ass.”

“And with the guys in mind, he is obviously jealous of Jamie, you know he’s gonna just keep going after him.”

“Yeah, I could see that,” Irene agrees.

“Vanessa has a lot of good arguments why Gavin needs to go, but if pulling it off means keeping Mathieu around… I’m going to need to think this over. We have to get rid of him, we have to. I hate not being able to fully trust my closest ally right now, and that’s his fault.”

“Oh, here we go!” Vanessa says, pulling out a scroll from tree mail.

“How are they going to torture us this time?” ponders Irene.

“Balance is essential,
As is steady hand and sharpest mind,
Make your odds become evens,
And you could leave your camp behind.”

Satya Yuga enters one at a time, Jamie bringing up the rear with the great purple banner. He places it as the tribe takes their place in front of Jeff.

“Welcome,” says Jeff, “to your first individual reward challenge. For this challenge, you will race along a ladder bridge that is wrapped in rope. You must maneuver bags of puzzle pieces along that twisting rope. The first four to make it across will move on to the second round, where you will use those puzzle pieces to solve a very complicated puzzle. The first person to complete their puzzle wins reward. Wanna know what you’re playing for?”

Everyone applauds with excitement. Nobody is sure what they’ll find under the covered table next to Jeff. He removes the sheet to reveal rolled up yoga mats.

“Is that like a mat to sleep on?” wonders Gavin.

“The winner of today’s challenge is going to take the day away from camp. You’ll spend the rest of the day at a yoga school here in the Western Ghats, where you will take a yoga class with a real yoga guru. Yoga is an ancient practice that Indian people have used for centuries to maintain the health of their mind, body, and spirit. After twenty-two days, I’m sure you could all could use a little bit of a tune up in that regard. This will also be an exceptionally unique opportunity to experience the culture of the land you’ve called your home for the past three weeks. After your lesson, you’ll be treated to a lunch of traditional vegetarian dishes.”

“Yes! Food!” cheers Vanessa, clapping excitedly. The news of lunch seems to have some of the castaways much more interested in the reward.

“In addition,” Jeff says, “the winner of today’s challenge will get to pick one person to send to Exile Island, where they will remain until the next immunity challenge. Worth playing for?”

“Oh yeah baby,” cheers Marco.

“Alright, we’ll draw for spots, then go ahead and get started.”

The castaways are lined up, positioned at their ladders.

“SURVIVORS READY? GO!”

“Remember,” Jeff advises, “only the first four to make it across will move on to the final round. The only rule is if you fall off your bridge, you must go back to the start. Already out of the gate we see Mathieu making quick work. Jordyne, right out the gate, appears to be totally stuck.”

“These bags are heavier than they look!”

Mathieu is, indeed, making progress the quickest, looping his back up and over the rungs with relative ease. Jamie is not far behind, but is clearly having a hard time balancing given his height.

“Jamie is in this,” Jeff points out. “Marina doing well. Gavin and Vanessa are in this.”

Marina stands with her legs on either side of the ladder, flipping the pieces through as she moves forward. Gavin is using a different strategy, standing with both feet on one side, moving sideways along.

“Oh come on!” yells, Vanessa, yanking at her bag. “Get going!”

“Vanessa getting stuck now, Gavin and Marina both moving ahead, Mathieu still in the lead, he’s almost done!” Jeff points out. Indeed, Mathieu is making the fastest work of the rope bridge, expertly moving the bags, whipping them along as the ladder begins to descend.

“First things first, you need to collect your pieces. Looks like the knots are already tripping Gavin up,” Jeff notes. Gavin grunts as he uses his teeth instead on the knots. The sound of wood clacking together bounces around as pieces drop from bags onto tables.

“There are sixty pieces to this puzzle! When it is finished, the final puzzle will be a flat square, but you can see these pieces are not the same size!”

Marina takes a piece one at a time and methodically tries placing it in various spots. Jamie’s eyes dark around his puzzle, a piece in either hand as he tries to think it through.

“Better than nothing,” says Mathieu as he places his first piece.

“Mathieu places his first piece,” Jeff announces. “You will know a piece is in the right place because it will be flat.”

“Ugh, this can’t be right then,” Gavin mutters as he tries placing a piece that sticks up far beyond the piece next to it.

As time progresses, each castaway manages to place more pieces. Marina crouches next to her puzzle, better examining the angles of the bottom half. She moves a piece along, smiling as she locks it in place.

“Wooooo!” cheers Jordyne as the other castaways applaud. “You killed that Gavin!”

“Great work!” admires Shelby. Gavin collapses against the finished puzzle, head rested between his arms.

“I can’t believe it!” he exclaims.

The castaways stand at the mat once again. Gavin wipes his eyes with the sleeve of his sweater.

“Gavin, you seem a little emotional,” Jeff points out.

“I am,” Gavin admits with a laugh. “I mean, you were there last night, Jeff. I made a total fool of myself. I needed to prove to myself I think that I can do this, so… this couldn’t have come at a better time.”

“Well come on over here,” Jeff invites, as Gavin steps over to grab his yoga mat.

“Now Gavin, before we get to the fun part, the not so fun part. Who is going to Exile Island?”

“Alright Jamie,” Jeff says, “You were close today, but unfortunately for you, the only place you’ll be going is Exile Island. Here’s your map.” Begrudgingly, Jamie approaches to take the map.

“Good luck bro!” calls Marco as Jamie heads off.

“Stay safe out there!” adds Marina.

“Now Gavin, I’m sure you’ve noticed by now, that there are two more yoga mats here on this table. This is going to be an incredible experience, I’d hate for you not to be able to share it.”

“Oh?” says Vanessa, suddenly wide-eyed.

“Pick two people to join you,” Jeff instructs.

“I mean… wow. I hope you guys know that I wish I could take everyone,” Gavin says.

“Well you can’t,” says Marco, “so make a choice.”

“Uh… Shelby and Jordyne,” Gavin decides. “Come on.”

“AHHHHH!!!!!” screams Jordyne, running over to Gavin and swaddling him in a huge hug. “Thank you thank you thank you oh my goddddd!”

“Thank you,” Shelby says, hugging him more gently.

“Who else would I have picked?” Gavin laughs to Shelby.

“Gavin, Jordyne, Shelby. You guys are going to have an amazing experience today, I hope you enjoy yourselves. You can head out.”

While Gavin and his guests head off, Jeff turns to the rest of the tribe.

“As for the rest of you? Got nothing for you. Head back to camp.”

“I really wanted to win. I think I’m one of the only people here who actually does yoga, so the reward sounded like it would have been a really amazing experience. But at the same time, it’s just a reward. It’s not immunity, and it’s certainly not the million dollars. So I’ll be okay.”

Gavin, Shelby, and Jordyne approach the yoga resort. Gavin has a beaming smile across his face.

“Talk about a roller coaster! I was so low after blowing my idol, and now I’ve won reward and I have total control to pick who I want to exile? I sent Jamie because I want him weakened. That way he’ll be less of a threat come immunity. Plus, I get to torture him a little, so that’s a bonus,” he laughs. “I also got to pick who I wanted to come with me to the yoga class, and uh, I could take two people. I picked Shelby and Jordyne, and it was a pretty easy decision. I’ve really wanted to work with them both but it’s like I can never get them on the same page, it’s so frustrating! I’m hoping that this can be a bonding experience for us and a chance for them to finally realize that all three of us can work together.”

We arrived at the resort, and walking in the anticipation was bubbling throughout my chest. Our merge feast was only a few days ago, but until then I’d forgotten how normal the abnormal has become. I’ve become so accustomed to the harshness of the circumstance that going days without a substantial meal feels standard. I’m humbled by the opportunity for the experience, but the thought of food is racing in my mind.”

As the threesome walks in, they are greeted by a pair of hostesses.

“Welcome,” says one of the women, grinning kindly. “Please ladies, if you would follow me this way,”

“Sir, you may come with me,” offers the other.

“We were to be given appropriate wardrobe when we arrived, and immediately I forgot about being hungry. Wearing clean clothes for the first time in weeks feels so good. The linen is soft and clean and doesn’t smell… immediately, I felt more relaxed.”

“I like yoga, so I was actually really excited when Jeff said this was the reward, because like, yoga classes are an expense, so I don’t really get to do them that often. This is going to be a once in a lifetime experience, I’m excited.”

The three castaways step out into a courtyard, overlooking a majestic view of the mountains. A lithe, old man awaits them in the center. He is balanced on one hand, his legs bent backwards up along his backside, feet interlocking behind his head.

“Woah!” Gavin gasps. “That’s incredible!” The man slowly unfurls from his position, reorienting himself to be sitting legs crossed in the lotus position.

“Namaste, hello. You may call me Babu Raj,” he greets kindly.

“Baburat? I don’t think I’m saying it right, but like… oh my god. Instantly obsessed. He had to be like, I don’t know, Rex’s age at least, so like three thousand? And like, damn, here I was thinking I was flexible! Clearly the yoga is doing wonders for him, I want to be bending like that a hundred years from now too, so I’m ready to just suck it all up. Like a sponge, schlooop!”

Jordyne, Shelby, and Gavin all lie flat on their backs, eyes closed.

“Focus only on your breathing,” Babu Raj instructs. “Put your hand on the abdomen, feel it rise as you inhale, feel it sink as you exhale. Feel the expansion of the ribcage, feel the contraction of the ribcage. Exhale, relax. Inhale strength and energy. Exhale and relax. Inhale strength and energy.”

“So when we got there, the guy was really contorted, and like, here I was thinking we were gonna do that. But that’s not really the point of yoga, I guess. We spent forever just breathing. At first, I didn’t really get it, but I was like, you know what, I won this reward, I want to get something out of this experience, so like… I just have to try, you know?”

“Now pull your foot forward,” the guru continues as the trio works through the next few positions. “Use your hands, help it along. Proper form is very important. Maintain your breathing,” he says.

“Whoof. This is not as easy as it looks,” Gavin mutters to himself.

“He kept saying that when you exhale, you relax. You’re breathing out all the negativity and then you breathe in and re-energize, and once I got into it it was actually relaxing. I really needed it, actually. I get down on myself a lot, and I don’t always know how to keep myself from doing it? It’s been hard especially during the game, because I feel like everyone is constantly expecting something from me. I feel so much pressure to prove myself. To just not feel pressure for a little while was a great reward.”

The castaways work themselves into a variety of positions as the lesson continues. Jordyne looks very natural with her movements. Gavin is somewhat struggling, but trying. During one pose, he loses his balance and falls over.

“Are you okay?” laughs Jordyne.

“Yeah, no big deal!” Gavin says, hopping back up.

“Alright so actually it might be more accurate to say I really liked the meditation part of it,” he laughs. “The like, poses themselves were uh… not my strong suit.”

What follows is a montage of Gavin continuing to struggle with the exercise. Numerous times he falls off balance or struggles to get the pose correct.

“I don’t think I know what I’m doing,” Gavin laughs.

“It’s your first time, Gavin. Nobody is going to be perfect to start,” says Shelby.

“I think that if Gavin could have chosen what the reward was going to be, he… would not have chosen this. I was unsure how he’d take to this experience. I think I know Gavin well enough at this point to predict him, somewhat, and when Gavin feels defeat, or frustrated, he throws in the towel. Nothing is fun to do until you’re good at it, and you aren’t good at anything if you don’t put in the effort to become good at it. When my daughter was… oh, she couldn’t have been more than five, when she started piano lessons. I refused to pay for something that we were providing her to enrich her as a person if she wasn’t going to take it seriously, but getting a five year old to sit and do something they don’t want to do? Any parent knows what a gargantuan task that is. It’s not fun to sit with your child while they scream and cry and resist you at every turn. She wasn’t the only one who wanted to give up. I wanted to give up. I wanted to turn on the tv and pour myself a glass of riesling and just pretend for five minutes that I had never had children,” she laughs. “but being a parent isn’t fun without practice either. And when she had her first recital, to see the genuine pride she had in herself when she stood at the end of the song to take her bow…” she begins to get teary eyed. “I know I’m proud of Gavin, so I can only imagine how his parents will feel when they see how much of a man their son has become out here.”

The castaways bow to Baba Raj as they finish their session, which is followed by them heading to a seating area in the garden. A feast of vegetarian foods waits before them.

“Thank you so much,” Shelby warmly thanks the attendants as the threesome take their seats.

“So I guess a lot of Hindus are vegetarians for religious reasons, so when we were getting our food it was all vegetarian, and don’t get me wrong I was excited to eat, but… like, come on! I’m a guy, I wanted some meat! Steak or chicken or something! And then I saw the food, and it was like, oh my god, this looks like barf. But uh, once you tasted it…”

“Oh my god, these are so good,” Jordyne says, popping what looks to be a fried potato in her mouth. “Gavin, thank you for providing lunch. I’m so glad we’re not eating little spoonfuls of rice and the last of the canned fruit right now. You are officially my favorite person ever for this.”

“Uh huh,” Jordyne says, stuffing a piece of flatbread in her mouth. “My lawyer is drafting up the–urp–paperwork back at camp.”

“Well then I guess you’re gonna vote with us next time, right?” Gavin says pointedly. Jordyne swallows her food sharply.

“Let’s just make sure that we’re all on the same page here, okay?” Jordyne says. “Gavin, when we all were down at the field the other day before Tribal Council, who did we agree there that we’d vote against?”

“I’m not trying to like, put you in your place or anything,” Jordyne says with a shrug. “But don’t act like I lied to you when I didn’t, and you did lie to me.”

“You lied to me, Jordyne,” Shelby interjects.

“Would you have voted for Rex last night?” Jordyne asks.

“If I had been given reason to, absolutely. Jordyne, do you not see me as a reasonable woman?”

“No Shelby, quite the opposite, I see you as a very reasonable woman, actually,” Jordyne says, “and frankly that’s always made me a little wary of you.”

“But why? Jordyne, the best approach to this game is for those who are reasonable to band with one another. People who make rational decisions can work together effectively. Are you implying your decisions haven’t been rational?”

“Is that a dig, Shelby?”

“Jordyne, you are so exceptionally defensive. It was not any sort of slight, this is a genuine question I’m asking you. Do you personally feel as though you are rationally thinking through your movements in the game? There’s no judgment.”

“Sure there isn’t,” Jordyne says, rolling her eyes.

“Ugh, sorry guys, I shouldn’t have brought it up!” interrupts Gavin. “I didn’t mean to make things awkward. Jordyne, you’re right. You did exactly what you said you were going to do and I messed up by not trusting you more. But you have to accept that Shelby’s right too, okay? She’s never lied to you, has she? She’s voted the way she said she would every single time. If you’re looking to trust someone, who better than someone who’s shown time and time again that they’re super trustworthy?”

“You think there’s something to that?” Jordyne asks Shelby.

“Jordyne, you know I don’t care to mince words,” Shelby says. “I’ve had this conversation with you before and I’m glad to have it again. Gavin and I know that our positions in this game are compromised. There were boundaries drawn by the vote and we were on the wrong side of that line. That’s just the reality of the situation. There are six other people back at our campsite I could turn to in order to convince that I should be kept at the expense of others. And yet I’m here, having this discussion with you.”

“Can I say something?” Gavin asks. Shelby nods.

“Go ahead,” Jordyne says with a gesture.

“You guys are the two that I’m closest to out here and it’s driving me up the wall trying to work with you both,” he says. “Can’t you guys just please, try and work something out? For me?”

Jordyne nods, chewing. “I think that my approach so far, hopefully, has made it clear to you, Shelby, that I’ll work with people who I feel I can trust. So let’s look each other in the eye right now, and shake on it. You and I trust each other, from here on out.”

Shelby stands and extends her hand. Jordyne takes it, and the two women shake.

“I trust you,” Shelby says.

“I trust you,” says Jordyne.

“I need as many options as I can have moving forward. I can’t risk anything keeping me from cashing this check in my bank account, you know what I mean? Shelby’s not going anywhere this round, not while Mathieu is still prancing around out here. So who knows? Maybe down the road Shelby and I can make things work. Maybe we’ll be the final two,” she laughs.

“I’m gonna check the nets,” Marina announces as she disappears into the jungle, heading down towards the water. “We might not be feasting but we can at least maybe have fish.”

“Have the time of your life! Or don’t. I’m not the boss of you!” calls Marco as she leaves.

In the shelter, Vanessa and Mathieu lie together.

“Is she gone?” whispers Vanessa to Mathieu.

“I think so,” he whispers in response.

“I would have loved to to be able to share a rich, cultural experience with Vanessa, but there will be infinite chances for those days in the future. I’m more upset to have lost. I hate to lose. I do not believe anyone likes to lose, but,” he laughs, “I really hate losing. However, if I didn’t win, the outcome that happened? It is not so bad. Gavin did not make surprising choices today. Gavin has spent the entirety of the game with two people, and they are also the people he is closest too, in Shelby and Jordyne. With his decision to take them, the old Bandar Tribe is mostly gone from the camp today, which gives Vanessa and I opportunity to talk with Marco and Irene uninterrupted.”

“I don’t think I got to tell you this yet, Marco, but that was awesome work getting Rex out,” Vanessa says, sitting next to him at the fire.

“Hey man, I was just following orders,” Marco says, holding his hands up. “I didn’t even like, know that nobody told you what was going on,” Marco says. “I didn’t want to go around talking too much, you know? I had to watch out for my own best interests here, no offense.”

“Hey, the past is the past,” Vanessa says. “I’m just amazed you got a Bandar out. I didn’t think it was possible. We could seriously make a comeback now,” she says.

“What’s this about a comeback?” Irene asks.

“I think we could make a comeback, the Saap Tribe,” Vanessa explains. “We’ve got four and Mathieu is with us. You guys were so hard on me for working on that bond and now look at the position we’re in. Guys, we have control of the game.”

“Do you have, like, a suggestion, or a direction you’re maybe thinking right now, or is it like… as long as we’re cool, you’re down for whatever?” Irene asks.

“Both,” Matheiu responds. “I have my opinion, certainly, but I am more than open to other possibilities.”

“He just is a wild card,” Vanessa says. “Like guys, I get it okay, that like… having this growing relationship here, I get why that makes y’all nervous, but y’all know exactly where I stand. That kid could go any which way.”

“Bluntly, the vote split the camp into two groups. You have the people who voted out Rex and the people who tried to vote out Jamie, and now the people who tried to vote out Jamie are obviously scrambling to get themselves to a better position. But like, it’s funny because Vanessa should have been on our side in the first place. I’m really angry that she tried to pull one over on us, because it should have been the four of us together. There isn’t any good in having a big confrontation, so I’m just trying to nod and smile and hear Vanessa and Mathieu out, but dude, it’s just making me want to roll my eyes so hard, like this was some small part of their master plan.”

“If it can assuage any of your fears,” Mathieu says, “please know that everything we have promised to Shelby and Gavin has not been true. They think that Vanessa and I will still work alongside them. So be aware, Irene, that they may try to approach you.”

“Me?” Irene asks. “Why me?”

“The plan,” Vanessa explains, “or rather, what they think is the plan is that we’re going to try to convince you to vote with us against one of the others. Because well, Marco and Jamie have each other, and Jordyne and Marina have each other… Shelby’s hoping you’d decide you have a better chance with us.”

Irene nods, but her face tells she isn’t buying it.

“I just don’t get why that’s supposed to make sense,” Irene says. “I mean, I don’t think Shelby is going to just drop Gavin by the wayside to start working with me. I’m still the person in this game who doesn’t have anyone, no matter where I go.”

“What do you mean?” Vanessa asks. “So you don’t have me, is that what you’re saying?”

“Mathieu has you,” Irene says. The doctor bites his lip, clearly searching for something he can say to help the situation.

“If you have something you need to say Irene, come on out and say it. You know I do not do well with fakery,” Vanessa says.

“Could we just… do you think the two of us can go talk somewhere alone?” Irene asks.

Vanessa looks to Mathieu, who nods understandingly.

“Fine,” Vanessa says, “let’s get out of here.”

“I’ve just been trying to lay low until Mathieu is gone and things can go back to normal, but Vanessa isn’t stupid. She realizes that I’m bothered and it’s really just widening the rift in our relationship. And I just hate it. I don’t like having bad relationships with people, especially not people I care about. It’s just like… how do you tell someone ‘hey, we’re getting rid of the guy you like because he’s a bad influence’? I feel that that dad who greets his daughter’s prom date with a shotgun,” she mimes. “Except Mathieu isn’t even, like, a bad guy. He’s a great guy. If it weren’t in the game I’d be nothing but happy for Vanessa, but we’re in the game, that’s the reality right now, and that’s why he has to go. Because here a great guy is a dangerous one. Ugh. I want to throw up, and I haven’t even eaten anything today.”

“You seemed totally on board this morning,” Vanessa says to Irene. “So that’s why I’m just a little confused with you saying you don’t have anyone. “

“I’m not saying that I don’t think anyone likes me, or that I don’t think I’m getting included in any plans. I’m obviously getting included in plans since we’re having this discussion right now. But look, Vanessa, think about how this whole situation looks from my perspective.”

“If I were in your shoes I would be pretty happy, Irene! We’re on our way to final four, the Saap Tribe! The goal we’ve been striving for since day one, that is on the horizon! Mathieu can help us get there.”

“Vanessa, we’re already headed there, that’s the thing! We don’t need Mathieu, Marina and Jordyne have made sure of that.”

“Yeah, but why them?” Vanessa asks. “You can’t seriously say you trust them more than you trust me.”

“It’s not you I don’t trust!” Irene exclaims. “It’s Mathieu, okay! No matter else who is working with whoever else, none of that matters, it’s totally different from a couple. Why would I expect you to pick me–or anyone else for that matter–over your boyfriend?”

“Boyfriend?” Vanessa asks. “Girl it is not that deep! We haven’t known each other that long, he’s not my boyfriend.”

“Vanessa, I’m only saying this because I know you’d call me out if this situation were reversed,” Irene says. “But just because you haven’t known him that long and just because he may not be your boyfriend yet doesn’t mean that you don’t have feelings for him or that you don’t want him to be your boyfriend.”

Vanessa falls silent, and she looks away from Irene. It takes Irene a moment, but notices that there are tears forming in Vanessa’s eyes.

“I just don’t know what to do, Irene,” she says. “I really like him. I’m scared to really like someone and to want them and not know what to do, I’d be scared of that at home, let alone here. I know I made my bed with Jamie and I might have to lie in it, I get that… I… I just don’t want this to end. Not just whatever I have with Mathieu, but the whole thing. This whole experience. I’m not ready for it to be over.”

“No one is,” Irene says. “Look. Ness, you’re not going anywhere, okay? I promise you, this isn’t the end for either of us. I… I just care about you and respect you too much to make a commitment about what my vote is going to be right now. At the very least lets wait and see who wins immunity. Gavin’s gonna have a tummy full of food to work with, who knows? Maybe lightning strikes twice for him and that plan is no good.”

“I thought that Irene would be jumping at the chance to take out Gavin, and I just couldn’t see why she and Marco weren’t gung-ho about it. And it’s not because of anything to do with Gavin, they still want to vote out Mathieu. I feel really tore up by the situation, because, like… Yeah, I do want to keep getting to know him, I want us to keep seeing what our bond can become, if this can go somewhere. But I want to stay in the game and I want to win a million dollars too. How hard do I push? Do I let them just have their way? Vote Mathieu out and move on from there? It’s so hard, because the feelings I have are real, but they’re hurting my position with my tribemates. I feel like a cat who done got herself stuck in a tree. Climbed up because it seemed like a good idea at the time and now I can’t get back down.”

“Do you think Jamie will forgive Vanessa and I?”

“What for voting against him?” asks Marco. “Uhh, you know bro, I really don’t want to try and answer that question for him. But he’s got a big heart and that’s not just because he’s such a big guy. He wants to be good to people, so I think as long as you just kind of explain your case clearly and respectfully, he’ll like, hear you out at least.”

“Vanessa says she voted for Jamie because she figured the chips were down, we were just straight outnumbered, so why make enemies? When we tried to vote the Captain off and he used the immunity idol? That was so annoying bro, having to come back to camp and look at the person who you just voted for and have that conversation about why you voted for them? That sucks. So like, will Jamie forgive Mathieu? Probably not. But I think he’ll be able to get over it with Vanessa. Once Matty’s out of here, we have her back, full stop. So we’ll have six of us: Jordyne and Marina, Irene and Vanessa, and who smack dab in the middle? The baddest brothers, of course, Jamie and Marco. We’ll have the best seat in the house. So like, I feel for Mathieu, you know? He’s just trying to save himself a seat at the table like everyone else, but like… sorry dude, not my problem.”

Jamie sits inside a surprisingly sturdy lean-to, the statue of Ganesha visible in the background. Jamie looks out at the landscape as he puts his hair up.

“I don’t know why Gavin has such a stick up his ass about me. It didn’t even take the boy one second after Jeff asked to decide he was sending me here, and I’mma be real with you, at first I was none too happy. I don’t know if it’s just because he tried voting me out and is mad I didn’t go, or if there’s something I did or said to him that I didn’t realize… maybe someone is lying to him, saying I’ve said things behind his back, I have no idea. But he’s got it out for me and that’s why he sent me away. If his goal is to make sure that I don’t like him either, he’s doing a mighty fine job of it. Being out here is miserable. I spent all day yesterday busting my ass by myself to get a decent shelter up because lord knows when the next bout of rain is going to come. Then I was totally parched because I just busted my ass, so I needed to make a fire and boil the water, which meant more busting my ass.”

Jamie heads over to the small fire he has built, smiling to himself as he tends to it.

“Who’s a good little fire? You are. That’s right, look at how cute you are,” he baby talks to the flame.

“It’s not that I can’t do it, I done it before at home. You grow up out in the boonies in Lousiana, lemme tell you, can’t find nobody in my hometown who ain’t never been camping. I been startin’ fires since before I was ten,” he laughs. “So look, I don’t mind having to do a little bit of hard labor out here. It’s the being all alone that really sucks. No one to talk to, no one to give you a hand with nothin, no nobody. It’s just you and whatever thoughts are in your head, and… well sometimes if I ain’t got nobody but my thoughts, it’s easy to go back to darker times. Especially when like, you been through some of the stuff I’ve been through. Realizing, you know, that you aren’t like all the other boys? Even when I was surrounded by other people I was isolated, I had to hide myself inside of me. Folks spend long enough hiding from the world, you get real sick of it real quick. So… yeah. Not too happy with Gavin for sending me here.”

Jamie is holding a piece of parchment. He once again reads over the clue.

“Banished from your Tribelands,Reflect on what you’ve said and done,If you’re seeking safety,Follow the setting sun.”

“Sun sets in the west,” Jamie says, “ so basically all it’s telling me is it’s somewhere on this side of the island,” he says making a gesture.

“But let me tell you, now that I’m here? Boy, you just made a real hell of a mistake. I don’t know if Gavin was even thinking about the immunity idol, but since he played it, it goes right back here, to Exile Island. Where someone else might be able to find it. So suddenly winning a reward has a whole different component to think about. If he’d thought about it a little more carefully, maybe he’d have sent someone like Shelby instead, someone he trusts to find the idol. But instead he chose to act petty, and that’s gonna benefit me. So uh, thanks Gavin,” he laughs.

“I got nothing better to do but look,” Jamie mutters as he moves along the area’s western coast. “I’m trying to keep my eyes open for anything that looks, I don’t know, out of place somehow? Just somewhere that something might be hidden. I’ve seen the idol played twice now, and it’s not very big. So it could be hidden anywhere.”

Jamie digs through a pile of stones, frowning as he finds nothing. He climbs up into a tree and peers around, seeing if anything stands out as unusual.

“If I can’t find it today, then me or someone in my alliance has to win this next reward. That’s my best chance of coming back and getting another clue. And if I can’t get it myself, I’d rather at least know it’s in the possession of someone I trust. For now, all I can do is keep guessing.”

The tribe stands on the mat while Jamie approaches from the opposite side of the clearing.

“We now bring back Jamie, returning from Exile Island.” Jamie waves to the group as he approaches.

“Good to have you back, handsome,” Jordyne says, hugging him tightly.

“Don’t leave me like that again, bro!” Marco jokes, punching him playfully in the arm. Irene hands him a water canteen, which he takes gratefully.

“Gavin, how was your yoga retreat?”

“Well,” Gavin laughs, “I learned that my calling is probably not being a yoga teacher, that’s for sure! But you know, Jeff, I’m honestly just really humbled by the chance to have the experience at all. Like I know there are Americans who spend thousands of dollars to come to India and train with real gurus, and all I had to do was solve a puzzle. So I’m really grateful. It was a really cool experience. And I mean, even if it wasn’t, we still got to eat.”

The other castaways chuckle softly.

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourselves,” Jeff says. “Now to get to today’s immunity challenge. First thing’s first, Mathieu. I’ll take back the Immunity Necklace.”

“Very well,” sighs Mathieu, unlatching the giant collar and bringing it to the host. Jeff places the ring back on its stand, the statue of Shiva dancing.

“One again, Individual immunity is back up for grabs. For today’s challenge, you will use only your feet. On my go, you will unspool a rope, which will release blocks into a basket. You will then stack your blocks blocks in a three-tiered tower and place a flag in the center. The first person to complete their tower wins immunity which means you are safe at tonight’s Tribal Council, and will have a one-in-eight shot at winning the million dollars. For the losers, one of you will be voted out, and that person will become the first member of our jury. Worth playing for?”

“More than you know, Jeff!” says Mathieu.

“Alright, we’ll draw for spaces, then go ahead and get started.

The castaways each take their places upon a circular seat atop a lazy suzan. Shelby tests her grip on the edges of the turntable. Marina flexes her toes. Marco goofily reaches over and pokes Jordyne in the arm with his foot.

It is clear there will be a learning curve to the challenge as the castaways begin the process of releasing their blocks.

“Working a rope isn’t as easy as you’d think with only your toes,” Jeff notes as the castaways begin to work. Marina’s blocks are the first to fall, followed in quick succession by Mathieu, Jordyne, Irene, and Gavin. Jamie, Marco, and Shelby’s all fall shortly after.

“Vanessa is stuck just getting her pieces!” Jeff points out. Vanessa grimaces as she tries to grip the rope with her toes.

“Remember, if your pieces fall out of your basket, you may pick them up with your hands, that is allowed,” Jeff announces. “Your blocks can only go from your basket to your platform with your feet.” Vanessa manages to free her blocks, and joins the others, who all seem to be making quick work of the first level.

“Irene doing well. Marina doing very well,” Jeff notes. “Everyone is moving quickly through this first level of blocks, Vanessa is catching up. Jamie seems to be struggling!”

“Marina now starting on her second level,” Jeff observes. Delicately, Marina places her first piece, then gently nudges the spinning platform to adjust the position of her tower. She turns her seat towards her basket and rummages through, trying to grip the appropriate block. “keep in mind,” Jeff continues, “the higher this tower gets, the harder it will become to complete. If you knock it over you’re starting over. Mathieu now starting on that second level, Irene, getting in on this at the second level!”

“If there was a challenge I knew I’d be okay at, it’s one where I get to sit!” Irene says. She grips her seat tightly as she moves a new second level piece into place. It wobbles slightly. She’s displeased with the position, so she grabs it again and tries to adjust. Meanwhile, Jamie gets frustrated as he bumps his tower, scattering pieces. He swears as he gets up to collect them.

“Two days on Exile, taking it’s toll on Jamie,” Jeff says. “Gavin and Marco, now both making some progress on that second level.”

“It’s all the yoga I learned,” Gavin says. “Gonna win me this immunity!” His momentary lack of concentration is paid for when he clumsily clubs a few blocks, toppling them.

“You’ll need to focus closely! One wrong move and your whole structure could tumble,” warns Jeff. “It looks like everyone is working on that second level. Marco, making great time, really catching up.”

“I think I’m getting the hang of this,” Marco says.

“It’s Marina, Mathieu, Marco in the lead! Marina is now finished her second row, starting her third.”

“Oh gosh,” Marina mutters, her core tensing as she places her second block on the third row. Mathieu goes to place his second as well.

“Mathieu would love to have that necklace again,” Jeff opines. Mathieu’s foot shakes, bumping the block he’d already placed. The blocks below it tumble as well. “At this rate, he’s not getting it, though!” Jeff calls. “Mathieu loses a huge chunk of his tower and has to go back to fix it. Marina, calm and steady as ever.”

Marina seems unfazed by the chaos around her. Her eyes are narrowed in tight focus, her task the only thing on her mind.

“Irene now on the third level,” Jeff announces as Irene places her next piece, “she’s catching up on Marco and Marina. Marina is slow and steady and just barely in front of Marco, he’s gaining on her!”

Marco places another piece, moving quickly to place another. The placement is wobbly, but he doesn’t seem to notice. As he adjusts his platform, the piece topples.

“Damn!” he says, rotating the platform back.

“Marco just lost a piece, he’s fighting to take that lead! Marina with only two more blocks to go. Irene now catching up.”

“Whaaat?” Irene laughs. She focuses and places another piece. “Just a few more,” she says.

Gently and purposefully, Marina lowers her feet, carefully placing her final block. When she is sure it’s steady, she carefully pulls her toes away. Marco at this point has repaired his damage and is hustling to catch up.

“Marina only has the flag to place? Can she do it?” Jeff ponders.

Marina exhales a final time and lowers her feet.

“She can!”

“MARINA! WINS IMMUNITY!”

“Marina,” Jeff addresses, “well earned. Come on up, try this on for me.”

The castaways applaud as Marina heads up to Jeff for him to adorn her with the immunity necklace. Jordyne is glowing like a proud parent.

“Tonight,” Jeff says to the group as he claps Marina on the shoulder, “someone is going become the first member of the jury who will ultimately decide who will be the Sole Survivor. It’s not going to be Marina, she’s safe tonight. You guys have tonight to figure out who it’s gonna be. Grab your stuff, head back to camp. I’ll see you tonight.”

“I’m so proud of myself. I won the challenge, which means I get to wear this,” she says, holding up the necklace. “And like, winning anything makes you feel pretty great, but winning immunity, I can’t fully describe the feeling. I know that I’ve lied to other people, so I’d have to be an idiot to think that nobody has lied to me at all. And that means even though right now I’m pretty sure that I’m safe, that I’m in a decent position, that my name isn’t going around… you can’t be certain. So having immunity definitely takes some of that weight off my shoulders.”

“Good job Reens,” Jordyne says, hugging her ally.

“You did awesome,” agrees Jamie. Mathieu watches carefully as Marina takes the necklace and hangs it on a nail sticking out from one of the poles of the shelter.

“Winning immunity isn’t just a good thing because it keeps me safe, though. It also means that Mathieu didn’t win, so he’s vulnerable tonight. He was going to be voted out last time, but he saved himself. The same reasons to vote him out before still apply today… so it’s probably going to be Mathieu tonight.”

“I could not have been more happy to see you win that, honest,” Marco tells Marina. The two of them, along with Jamie, Irene, and Jordyne, are down at the riverbank, discussing the vote. “Literally, I didn’t care who won it, as long as it wasn’t him, but I’m so happy for you,” he beams.

“Oh yeah, I completely forgot,” Marco says. “How weird is that gonna be, seeing him there next time?”

“It’ll become normal, I’m sure,” Jordyne says, “just like voting people out does.”

“There’s gotta be a way to figure out who wins once it gets to the last two people, you know? Like they can only vote for each other, so how are you gonna vote anyone else out? That’s why the game is changing a little tonight. From now on, whoever gets voted off is going to become a part of the jury, and the jury is going to vote for the winner between the last two castaways remaining. So now I’ve got one more factor to juggle when making decisions. I’m not just thinking about how I can keep myself from getting voted out, or how I can get other people voted out… I got to think about how those people on the jury are gonna be thinking and feeling, if they’re going to want to vote for me to win or not. This game is just going to get more and more complicated as we go further towards the end. I figure keep it simple when you can, right? Mathieu isn’t just like, the triple threat, bro, he’s like, the fourple threat. No, that’s not… fourple,” he laughs, “what the heck? Quadruple threat. Whatever. He’s good at a lot of stuff, okay?” he laughs. “There’s no other name to write down that would make more sense to me, honestly.”

Jordyne and Marina walk back up to camp together.

“Jojo, really though. How much do you trust Mathieu?”

Jordyne shrugs. “I mean, I wouldn’t have any issues if he was my doctor, but in this game?”

“Why? Oh my god, did they get in a fight? Is she pregnant?” gasps Jordyne.

“Can you please, please be serious for just a second, this is serious,” Marina pleads. “Just no jokes for five minutes so we can figure this out: Why can’t we vote Vanessa off tonight instead?”

“Because.… why can’t we?” Jordyne says with a smile.

“I don’t want to rely on technicalities here, but technically we promised Jamie and Marco that we would vote out a Bandar first. We didn’t say anything about giving them another one.”

“Yeah, but they’re not going to turn on Vanessa, especially when we still have Mathieu to worry about,” Jordyne reasons.

“Which is exactly why we need to get her out first,” Marina continues. “Once Mathieu is gone she’ll have nowhere to go except back with her old tribe. We could be putting ourselves in a really bad position. If we keep Mathieu we always have ‘Bandar Strong’ to fall back on. It gives us the most options, and I know you love those.”

“You’re right,” Jordyne says. “I do love options.”

“This is why I’m so hype to have Marina in my corner. You get crazy out here, you’re not always thinking through every angle. My alliance with Marina is so solid because we can trust each other to like, spot check for each other. So when she’s talking voting for Vanessa, I’m like, that’s all really, really true. Mathieu, the big, beautiful doctor? He’s very easy to get lost in looking at, with all those muscles,” she says, flexing in jest. “It’s easy to get distracted and not see Vanessa hiding behind him.”

“Well, I know who I need to talk to then,” says Jordyne.

“Hey uh, Irene,” Gavin asks. “Can we talk for a second?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“So Gavin comes up to me wanting to talk, which is immediately weird because we don’t really go off and talk, like, ever. He’s kind of more like a sibling? We live in the same house and eat in the same kitchen but we’re not hanging out in each other’s rooms. So when he’s coming to talk to me, I figure it’s because he needs something.”

“I think that’s a reasonable thing not to want,” laughs Irene. “I don’t either. But what do you want from me?”

“Look, you know that you’re not a high priority with Jamie, right? He’s in with Marco and Jordyne, not you.”

“Alright, no offense Gavin, but what would you know about my relationship with Jamie?”

“Nothing, maybe, you’re right–I can’t know for certain, but like… okay, so the thing is if you were looking at it from my point of view? That’s how it looks. Like, haven’t you ever been too close to something, and not have been able to see it clearly? Like, you’re an artist, right?”

“I mean, I like to draw, I wouldn’t say I’m an artist,” Irene agrees, sheepishly.

“Well you know how it is when you’re making a picture,” Gavin says. “You’re so focused on it that you don’t really know what it looks like anymore, so you ask someone else to look at it with fresh eyes?”

“Look… ugh, alright, if I tell you what’s up tonight, can you just… please promise not to let anyone know I told you?”

“Cross my heart,” Gavin says.

“It’s not you,” Irene says. “No one is voting for you.”

“Mathieu.”

“Mathieu,” Irene confirms.

Gavin nods. “So there’s nothing I could say to convince you, is there?”

“Not right now, no,” she says. “I don’t feel comfortable with the plan changing so Tribal Council so close. Write Mathieu’s name.”

“I’m thinking a lot about how the jury is going to start and what that’s going to mean. When people go out of the game, they don’t just disappear off into the darkness anymore, never to be seen again. You’ve got to be a lot more careful with how people feel about you when they leave, because if they’re really angry that you voted for them, or that you lied to them… you just don’t want to give people reasons to not want to vote for you. And truthfully, I felt bad. Gavin reminds me a lot of myself in a lot of ways, so like… I’m sure he’s kind of sensitive. I don’t know, I just didn’t want to lie to him for no reason.”

“Well hey, thanks for telling me at least,” Gavin says. “I just kind of don’t want to make an jackass of myself again at Tribal Council, you know?”

“Hey, for what it’s worth? I think what you did was really brave,” Irene says. “Like, yeah, you took a risk and it didn’t pay offs, and that means sometimes it doesn’t pay off, but so what? At least you had, like, the guts to do it, you know?”

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Thanks,” Gavin smiles.

“Seriously though, at this point? As long as it’s not me or Shelby going home, I really don’t care. Better someone else than me. I can’t really afford to be picky right now, you know? I hope Jordyne is going to still trust me and still want to work with me, but I know I kind of burned that bridge a little by not trusting her before. I’m hoping that she could see that by taking her with me on the yoga reward, I was trying to show her that I still want to work with her, despite everything.”

Jamie is at the well, talking with Vanessa and Mathieu.

“Are we passed last Tribal Council?” Vanessa ask, clearly hesitant.

“You writin’ my name down tonight?” Jamie asks.

“No, absolutely not, I swear,” she says. “I know exactly which name I am writing down, and nothing is changing my mind, and that name is Gavin.”

Jamie nods and turns to Mathieu. “And you’re doing the same thing?”

“I am,” Mathieu confirms.

“It’s very tempting to write Gavin’s name tonight. I’d love to give it to that brat, especially since he has it out for me. Mathieu? I think we’ve seen now that there are still gonna be opportunities to get him. He didn’t win today. He didn’t win the challenge a few days ago. That’s proof right there, he’s got weaknesses, he’ll have more. Between Mathieu and Gavin, I actually think I can trust Mathieu more. I can trust anything more than a kid who just straight up doesn’t like you.”

“There is no reason that the members of the Saap Tribe should distrust me, because I am being truthful with them. Bandar is a sinking ship. I have experienced in my life the way that sometimes, home can become too inhospitable a place to remain safely. You find safety, take a deep breath, and move forward.”

Jordyne and Shelby walk together in the field.

“I said I trust you,” Jordyne tells the older woman, “and I mean it. Which is why I’m here talking to you about this now.”

“Well, truthfully, Jordyne, I’m grateful you’re taking the time to talk to me at all. I’ve stated as much before, but I understand that my position is compromised and that I’m not owed assistance by anyone else, so you reaching out is genuinely appreciated.”

“You know, it’s funny,” Jordyne says. “My first instinct was to roll my eyes at you, like ‘oh my god, she’s so condescending, there’s no way she’s being genuine right now.’ But like, then I had to remind myself that trusting you? That means trusting that you have good intentions. I think that’s what Gavin likes about you the most. He knows your intentions are good. His are too. And I think sometimes…. sometimes he doesn’t know what to do with good intentions, and you’ve been showing him how to take action.”

“Oh–oh my. Thank you,” Shelby says, clearly taken aback somewhat.

“The point is, Marina and I have been talking, and we want Vanessa gone tonight, and there are too many people who won’t go for it. That’s kind of why it has to happen, and it’s kind of why I have to come to you.”

“Mathieu won’t vote for her… her Tribe won’t either. We only have four votes, Jordyne. We need someone else.”

“Four is enough,” Jordyne says. “Because just like Mathieu won’t vote for Vanessa? Vanessa’s not voting for him.”

“I’m not sure I follow,” says Shelby.

“So this is kind of what we’re thinking, me and Reens,” Jordyne says, crouching and drawing in the sand with her finger. “Jamie, Marco, and Irene think that me and Marina are voting Mathieu with them,” she says, drawing three dots and circling them. “That’s not going to work for Vanessa, and obviously it’s not going to work for Mathieu, so they’re voting somewhere else, they have to be. I don’t know who, they haven’t talked to me about it. Maybe it’s me.”

“They haven’t talked to me either,” Shelby say. “Not since we last discussed going against Jamie. But still, as you said, not votes for Mathieu. So that’s two…”

“You, me, Marina, Gavin? Four.”

“What if Jamie’s lying to you, Jordyne? What if they aren’t planning to vote Mathieu at all?”

“I’m not saying it for sure, but it’s worth talking about, I think,” Jamie says.

“We could have probably picked a better time than right before Tribal,” Irene says, nervously watching around them. The wooded area they’re talking in is not far from the main campsite.

“It don’t mean we have to keep Mathieu around forever, but I think he’s totally serious about being loyal to us. I think he’s crazy for Vanessa and he’s willing to do whatever she tells him to to prove it.”

“Well there you go!” Marco says. “Another perfectly good reason to send him home. Nobody else in this game has a man-servant to hand out votes for them, okay?”

“So how come Shelby gets to keep hers?” Jamie counters. “I’m saying that Gavin isn’t loyal to us at all, okay? Mathieu has some loyalty to us. Why are we voting off the guy who will be loyal instead of the punk-ass kid who is going to burn down this whole jungle trying to impress a girl?”

“I told Gavin he was safe, okay guys?” Irene interjects. “And I’d just rather not go back on that, what’s the point? We can vote Gavin out next.”

“I just don’t see the point in it, sorry bro,” Marco shrugs.

“You know what, I said my peace, if my alliance isn’t game, it’s not worth starting a big deal about it. End of the day, this is about working with people. You don’t get to a million dollars at the end if you don’t work with people to do it. “

As the night begins to overtake the forest, the castaways collect their torches, and head off into the jungle to meet their fate.

The remaining 9 castaways of the Satya Yuga Tribe enter the hallowed grounds of Tribal Council, taking their seats.

“So last time we were here,” Jeff begins, “There were two people in particular who were honest enough to say that they thought they might be in danger: Vanessa and Jamie. And yet at the end of the night, Rex went home, someone who thought they were safe. So I’m going to start with you, Vanessa–Do you still feel like you could be in trouble tonight?”

“Absolutely, Jeff,” She says.

“Jamie?”

“Oh yes sir,” Jamie says.

“Here’s the thing,” Vanessa says. “If you don’t have that beautiful accessory Miss Marina is wearing, I think we’ve all learned that you should always feel nervous, because we’ve seen it happen enough times now where someone thought they would leave here and go back to sleeping in the rain and instead they got sent home. And how crazy is that, Jeff? I’m doing everything I can to make sure that ain’t me! I want to stay and keep sleeping in the rain, I’m not ready for a hotel just yet!” The others laugh.

Marina raises her hand, giggling, before putting it back down. Marco looks around, and then confidently puts his hand up.

“Very interesting,” Jeff says, “Marco, you’re the only one besides Marina to raise their hand. Marina, I think everyone can understand why she raised her hand, she’s immune tonight. What makes you feel so certain you’re safe?”

“I mean, yeah, maybe everyone’s been plotting behind my back to get rid of me, but if they are they’ve done a really good job of it. But you have to remember, Jeff, at home? My job is to pay attention to details. My business helps our clients to make their homes safe for their children, and so you have to be constantly on the lookout for potential hazards that you might not even think twice about. I haven’t heard my name coming out of anyone’s mouths, and if it has been going around, they’ve been doing a really, really good job to hide it from me.”

“Do you think that the others have heard specific things, as you’ve alluded? Or maybe they’re thinking more along the lines of what Vanessa was saying–that no matter what, there’s always just some small chance it’s you?”

“I think the others are trying to be polite, honestly,” Marco says, laughing nervously. “I mean, come on. People don’t want to tempt fate, I get it. But like, I don’t think everyone is going to switch their decision right now just to be like ‘oh, Marco thinks he’s safe, let’s show him!’ There are bigger fish to fry than me right now.”

“Such as?” Jeff asks.

“My boy Matty over here, for one,” laughs Marco, as he pats Mathieu on the shoulder.

“Jeff, there is no point in denying what Marco says. It will not convince anyone,” Mathieu says, shrugging. “I obviously cannot change my body right now to make myself suddenly appear less fit! My body, my skillset, my performances in the challenges–those are all completely visible, impossible to hide from the others. If they are hoping to vote out someone who they are worried will be a threat in the challenges, I cannot argue against that. That is sound logic.”

“But see Jeff, it’s not just about challenges, I mean, listen to him!” laughs Marina. “He’s the sweetest guy. A lot of people, if they got called out for being a threat? They’d try and deflect, be like ‘oh, I’m not thaaat good, don’t look at me!’ And he just owns it, and I think that’s really admirable. And like, you’ve told us straight up that the jury starts tonight, and it just really gets you thinking about what the rest of the game entails. And it’s like, do I want to be in the final two with this guy who I’ll never beat?”

“I think I can be beaten, Jeff,” Mathieu says. “Everyone has their kryptonite.”

“Marina makes a very valid point,” says Jeff, “now Mathieu, whether or not you personally feel as though you count as a threat aside, would you guys say on the whole that Marina is right? That the start of the jury has had a notable impact on the game?” Most of the castaways raise their hand, with the exception of Shelby. “Care to elaborate, Irene?”

“Definitely,” Irene says to Jeff. “Like, it’s Day 24, we’re more than halfway now, the end is going to come sneaking up on us before we know it. You don’t want to be stuck in a situation where the only way you can make it to the last day is by getting there with someone you have no chance of beating. So I think everyone is thinking about what choices they have to make now, while there are still enough people in the game to make new choices.”

“I disagree in that I don’t think it’s changed my game that profoundly. I can’t speak for anyone else, but my focus in this game has always been directed on what I can impact. What actions can I take to accomplish my goals? My goal is to win, so I absolutely have been thinking ahead.”

“So in that case Shelby, how do you decide how to vote on a night like tonight? What decision do you make keeping that long-term goal in mind?”

“As others have said, I think that it’s important to assess who is threatening to your chances, and threats come in all shapes, all colors, all sizes. There’s no one way to be a threat in this game. You don’t want to find yourself in a finals situation where you are up against the unbeatable, and that is certainly one type of threat. But you have to make it to the finals first. So you do have to think about the short term as well, and think about who is standing in the way of you and that position at the end. Someone who you may be the best matchup for you when it comes to that final vote might also be the person who is trying to orchestrate your elimination right now.”

“Jamie, Shelby has brought up some very valid points about how you assess your threats. What are you basing your vote on tonight?”

“Jeff, I agree, Shelby’s got lots of good points because she’s a smart woman, just one of the things that makes her a threat, and that’s why decision making in this game is so hard, because everyone’s got something that makes them dangerous. I think it’s fitting. We’re in the jungle, every animal here has no choice but to take advantage of whatever little ecological niche it can find to take advantage of. But a deer can’t outrun a tiger, you know? So if I’m the deer, I want the tiger out. I’m not trying to get myself eaten out here, you know what I’m saying?”

“You know, Jeff…” Gavin says, looking a little tired out, “I just want to stay. It’s just like Vanessa said. I want to be in the rain, not at the hotel. And I’m not in a position to be calling shots, so tonight, the person I’m voting for? I’m voting for them because someone else told me that’s who they were voting for. And I’m hoping it works.”

“Care to share who told you this?” Jeff probes.

“No, not really,” laughs Gavin. “What’s the fun in that?”

“I think, honestly Jeff, that’s what we’re all doing,” Jordyne says. “It doesn’t matter if someone comes up to you and says ‘this is what I want to do,’ or if you’re the one approaching other people and having them say ‘I want to do that too.’ Saying you want to do something and actually going up to that table, writing a name, holding it up, saying your little thingy, putting it in the jar–two very different things. You just have to make a decision believing you can trust in what people are saying. So I know for me, that’s a big criteria. Is there someone here who I can’t trust to be there for me? That’s the person I want gone.”

“The eighth person voted out of Survivor: India, and the first member of our jury…”

“Vanessa. Vanessa, I need you to bring me your torch.”

Vanessa sits, looking somewhat stunned for a moment before she stands. Irene’s mouth is agape with shock. Marco looks absolutely furious. Gavin leans his head back in relief.

Irene stands and gives Vanessa a huge hug.

“I’m so sorry,” Irene says, choking back tears.

“It’s all good baby, it’s all good, it’s a game,” Vanessa says, clearly tearing up herself. She turns her attention to Matheiu, who gently takes her chin in his hand as he kisses her passionately.

“Wooo!” cheers Jordyne. Some of the others clap. Vanessa steps away from Mathieu, tears running down her cheeks. She walks over to Jeff, torch in hand, and places it in it’s space. She turns to look at the group one more time.

“I will see you soon!” encourages Mathieu. Vanessa turns her attention to Jeff.

“Vanessa, the tribe has spoken,” Jeff says. He snuffs her torch. “It’s time for you to go.” Vanessa nods, clearly distraught, and turns one last time to wave goodbye.

“Bye Ness! I love you!” calls Jamie.

Vanessa turns back to the exit, and makes her way out of Tribal Council.

Jeff turns to address the remaining castaways.

“Tonight there was a lot of talk about threats, who is dangerous to your chances of succeeding at your ultimate goal of winning this game. For some of you, I’m sure a threat just walked out of this room. For some of the others, I’m sure that you’re now feeling a lot more exposed, so you better find somewhere to hide. You guys can grab your stuff and head back to camp. Goodnight.”

Eight remain. Who will be the next to go?

“Oh, I’m so mad! I’m sad, I’m embarrassed, I’m a mess of emotions right now. But it’ll all be good in a hot second, I just need some time to get my messy self together. This has been the experience of a lifetime, and I’m so happy I did it, and so proud of myself, I can’t believe I made it to the jury, and I am excited to know I still have a role to play, and that I’m still going to get to see all these people! I got to meet the most amazing people here, people who I know I’m gonna be friends with for life, and with Mathieu? Who knows, but I’m hoping maybe more. Maybe I played with my heart a little more than with my head, but I can’t go back and undo it, so no point in crying over spilled milk. I’ll get back at them when I come to Tribal Council in three days showered and looking fly and fresh anyway!”